Short Summary

ARMED PARIS POLICE YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) THREW A CORDON AROUND THE LATIN QUARTER AS STUDENTS PLANNED FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS.

Description

ARMED PARIS POLICE YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) THREW A CORDON AROUND THE LATIN QUARTER AS STUDENTS PLANNED FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS. POLICE, WITH SHIELDS, HELMETS AND RIFLES TOOK UP POSITIONS AT EVERY CORNER IN THE LATIN QUARTER BUT A STRANGE CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE PREVAILED WITH STUDENTS, POLICE, SHOPPERS AND TOURISTS MINGLING ON THE BOULEVARDS.

FOLLOWING A NIGHT OF VIOLENCE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, IN WHICH MORE THAN 750 PEOPLE WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INJURED, STUDENTS PLANNED A NEW DEMONSTRATION WHICH THREATENED TO BRING THE WORST NIGHT OF VIOLENCE YET TO THE FRENCH CAPITAL.

HOWEVER, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT SUCCESSFULLY AVERTED THE IMPENDING CLASH BY UNEXPECTEDLY BOWING TO THE STUDENTS DEMANDS TO REOPEN THE SORBONNE. PRIME MINISTER GEORGES POMPIDOU ANNOUNCED IN A NATION-WIDE RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCAST LAST NIGHT (SATURDAY), THAT THE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE "FREELY OPENED" FROM TOMORROW, MONDAY. HE ALSO PROMISED THAT THE APPEAL COURT WOULD CONSIDER STUDENT DEMANDS FOR AMNESTY FOR STUDENTS CONVICTED DURING THE RIOTS OF THE PAST WEEK.

AS A RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION, STUDENT LEADERS ASKED THE DEMONSTRATORS TO DISPERSE AND AVOID FURTHER TROUBLE. HOWEVER, THEY ASKED THE STUDENTS TO REGROUP FOR NATION-WIDE DEMONSTRATIONS SCHEDULED TO COINCIDE WITH A 24-HOUR GENERAL STRIKE TOMORROW (MONDAY)